Motivation.

I have new motivation to start prepping for bikini season. It's only January, you say? Well, it takes me a while (ha!). Plus, I've had a series of motivational events occur, which in turn has pumped me up. It's time to start thinking about Summer 2012!

A couple of days ago, a sorority sister of mine posted on her Facebook about Needtobreathe's newest album and how this was the perfect music to listen to while working out. I had just been thinking about how it was time to update the workout playlist on my iPod (thanks for the tip Natalie!), so I decided to take the chance and buy the album. I've only listened to a couple of songs, but I'm already loving this music. Time to get on that treadmill!

Today was gorgeous! There is nothing like a high of 75 and abundant sunshine to make you want to skip work and lay out on the beach instead (this girl is TOTALLY dreamin')!! So, I settled for the sunroof down while I drove around town this afternoon. It was blissful!

So, after I had discovered new workout music and was teased by South Texas' bipolar winter weather, I bought a salad for lunch. Whhaaattt?! Shocking, I know. Don't worry, I didn't make it too healthy. It was from McDonalds, after all. All joking aside, it was a yummy salad! I may buy another sometime. :)

Besides working out and eating healthier, I've been thinking about little ways that I can take better care of my body. I drink way too much coffee and diet coke. I'm sure the amount of caffeine that my body thinks it needs to function is abnormal. So, I've decided that one small cup of coffee in the morning before work is all I get. I knew that this decision would be difficult, so I decided to buy myself a prize to reward good behavior. Check out this guy:

It's a Brita water bottle! There is a filter inside so that I can get water from the water fountain at work and it will be filtered before I drink it. Cool, huh? With a fun water drinking system, I'm going to trick my mind into thinking that water > coffee. Wish this addict luck. :)

And last, but not least, I need new running shoes. Badly. I've had mine for over 3 years and they are worn out. I love them, but it may be time to retire the old Mizzunos for a new pair. I won a little competition at work which resulted in an unexpected $100 prize. Cha-ching! New running shoes will hopefully be purchased shortly. I'm thinking about these:

Plus, remember that half marathon I decided to run in 2012? I need to get going on that training and these running shoes would be a great place to start!

So, no excuses ladies! It's time for this blogger to get out of the winter funk and start a more consistent workout/healthy eating routine. I have new workout music, sunshine, a super cool water bottle, and hopefully some new running shoes in the near future. 2012 bikini body, here I come!

{I'm hoping that by setting this goal "out loud" on the blog, it may actually motivate me to stick with it. If you set no goals, you'll reach them every time, right?}

That time I was given a free iPad.

That title got your attention right? I mean, how does someone just get a free iPad? Well, I did! And there is definitely a cool story behind it.  :)

In December, I had a great opportunity to travel with my manager and another rep from the station to Phoenix, Arizona for a sales training. Cordillera Communications, the company that owns the TV station I work for, sent new hires from it's 13 TV stations around the country to participate in a Jim Doyle Upgrade Selling seminar. Jim Doyle & Associates is an amazing team of sales and marketing consultants who teach companies, business owners, and TV reps like myself to increase the results of advertising. I can honestly say that after 2 days of training, my brain was on advertising overload! I took a ton of notes and soaked up every opportunity to learn from these professionals and their real-world experience. I also loved getting to know other reps that work for the same company I do, just in other states. Overall, this was a great experience.

 {I had my own hotel room for two nights. King bed all to myself = fabulous!}

{Dinner in Downtown Tempe on our first night}

{I woke up to mountains. This was a different experience for this Texas girl}

{Amber, myself, and our new friend from Lafayette, Heather, out at dinner with the entire group on the second night}

{The KRIS team with Jim Doyle}

So now, I'm sure you're wondering about the iPad. We're almost there!

On the first full day of training, the president of Cordillera Communications, who was also in Phoenix with us, took a few minutes around 10 a.m. to get all of the TV stations on one conference call. The purpose of this call was to announce the winners of the 2011 President's Club Award. The winners of this award are recognized for their many accomplishments throughout the year, may it be meeting and going beyond their goals/budget, billing outstanding numbers of new business, etc. It was announced that these winners would not only be receiving a plaque with their names on it, but would also be receiving a new iPad 2 from the company! Whoa!!! I thought this was a pretty sweet deal for those winners and even sweeter when all of a sudden, MY NAME WAS ANNOUNCED! I was floored. What? I won?? I mean, I had had a great year and I work for great people who have taught me so much and believe in me (which I truly believe is a key to success), but I definitely wasn't expecting to win such a cool award. And this is how I won a free iPad.:)

Crazy, huh? The iPad arrived yesterday and I love it! I'd like to think this is God's way of rewarding me for planting my feet firmly where He has called me and persevering through what has been a huge learning curve professionally in 2011. It felt really good to be reminded that hard work pays off. :)

{Hello iPad 2}

I guess I should mention a few resolutions...

Can you believe it's 2012?! Actually, I can. :)

As wonderful and blessed as 2011 was (our wedding, honeymoon, job growth, a new puppy, etc...), I am looking into 2012 with a refreshed perspective on life. 2011 was stressful. There was a lot of growing up to do and I must say that I'm pretty proud of Luke and I for making it through.

I know I'm a little late in writing a post about my goals for 2012, but I promise I've been thinking about these a lot. So, without further ado... 

Sara's 2012 Goals

1) Travel, travel, travel! I have waited for this time in my life for nearly 25 years. I'm young, educated, employed, married, and have zero children. It is time for my husband to steal me away to exciting cities! I want to visit Chicago, San Diego, and Nashville. I want to go back to New York this year at least once, if not 2 or 3 times. I'm already planning mine and Luke's 1 year anniversary trip (but not to NYC). I can't tell you where we are going yet, but it's going to be amazing!

2) Be a better friend. 2011 has felt a little too "all about me." My wedding, my honeymoon, my job, my life. I'm ready to turn the focus around quite a bit. I want to rejoice in my friends' and family's successes and joys. I have a friend getting married in August and I can't wait to be there for her. I have a sister graduating early from college (potentially) this year and I can't wait to celebrate that accomplishment. I have friends that are on the cusp of exciting life changes and I can't wait to see where the Lord takes them. 2012 needs to be less about me and more about others. Please hold me to this. I mean it. :)

3) Cook at least 2 nights per week FROM SCRATCH (not Chicken Viola, frozen chicken strips, etc). I want to be the kind of wife that my husband says, "Whoa. That woman I married--she can COOK!" Wish me luck, ha!

4) Pay off all debt, minus Luke's student loans and my car. These are our two largest bills, so to speak, so monthly payments are just going to have to do for now. But everything else? I want it GONE. Luke's medical bills from his motorcycle accident? Gone. Our two credit card bills? Gone. Luke's car payment? Gone. I. WANT. THEM. GONE!!!! And thanks to our new budget that we've put together, I totally believe that Luke and I are going to accomplish this goal. Yay!!!

5) Train for and run a half-marathon. I really, really want to accomplish this. Mainly because I want one of those 13.1 stickers for the back of my car. :) And because each time I see other people accomplish such a goal, I ask myself why I'm not trying. Running a half-marathon is totally do-able for me. I just need to go DO IT.

6) Pack my lunch for work at least 2 days per week. This might sound a little silly to you, but it sort of goes back to the whole saving money thing. I spend way too much money eating out. So, I'm cutting back.

7) Learn to use my SLR at an intermediate level (at least). For Christmas 2009, my mother bought me a beautiful Nikon D5000 to take to New York for my semester abroad. It takes beautiful pictures, but I don't know how to USE it, ya know? I can point and click, but I want to learn how to adjust all the fancy settings and to make pictures look a certain way. See, I don't even know the vocabulary!

Ok, that's only 7, but I can't think of any others at this point. I know there are more, but it's 10:30pm and I still have to go run before I can hit the sack. Hold me to my goals, ok blogger friends? You don't know how encouraging your comments and kind words can be. :)

And one last thing: my blog made a little appearance over here today. Check it out and give Breanna a little love. Thanks!

I encourage others to spend money.

In the last two days, I have had two sweet ladies @reply to my twitter handle, saying thanks for blogging about some recent purchases. After reading the love confession I wrote on my blog about my new Erin Condren day planner, Stacey purchased one to help her organize her days as a working woman and new momma (to the most precious little girl!). My Delta sister, Paige, read my blog post about purchasing a new pillow top for our bed with Christmas money and has now purchased one for her and her husband. How sweet is this??

P.S. Who isn't paying me for helping promote sales? If you're this person, please give me a call. I'd love to collect! Tee hee. :)

But in all seriousness, I love hearing that my blog helps others (even if it helps them spend money, ha!). Encouraging comments to bloggers really makes their day! And thanks for reading the ol' blog Stacey and Paige. You two are some pretty incredible ladies and I'm proud to call you friends!